Partition construction



C. L. WEBSTER PARTITION CONSTRUCTION June 5, 1962 Filed June 25. 1959Arm/MEX June 5, 1962 Filed June 25. 1959 c. WEBSTER 3,037,593

PARTITION CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2e JEBE'NE i E BY/W June .5,1962 c. 1.. WEBSTER PARTITION CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June25. 1959 INVENTOR.

CMFFORD L- WEBS R 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 25, 1959 INVENTOR.

CLIFFOKD L WEBST M ATTO/F/VEK 3,037,593 PARTITION CONSTRUCTION CliffordL. Webster, Narberth, Pa. (713 Haverford Road, Bryn Mawr, Pa.) FiledJune 25, 1959, Ser. No. 822,800 3 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This inventionrelates to partition construction, and more particularly to partitionconstructions of the type formed of prefabricated partition sectionsadapted for rapid installation to create a variety of different types ofspace dividers, the present application for patent thereon being acontinuation-in-part of my earlier filed application Serial No. 764,959,filed October 2, 1958, now abandoned.

In the past, partition structures have been known which were designedfor particular purposes and which were generally unsuitable for use inapplications other than that for which they were specifically designed.For example, partition structures normally encountered to divide largeareas of floor space into smaller segregated areas for use as individualoifices, have generally been constructed by employing wooden studdingsubsequently sheathed in a finished facing material which generallyrequired painting or other type of treatment in order to present anacceptable appearance. In other instances, metal types of partitionshave been employed which nevertheless require on-the-spot assembly withbolts and screws and other types of fasteners. Partitions of theforegoing types are relatively expensive in that they involve heavylabor costs in order to effect installation. Moreover, most partitionsof the foregoing types require a similar length of time for removal inthe event that the partitions are to be used at a different location,and, in the case of sheathed wooden studding, removal of the partitiongenerally involves its destruction or at least sufficiently impairs itsappearance that it cannot be reused as a partition. Accordingly, it is aprimary object of my invention to provide a partition construction whichis attractive in appearance, durable and rugged in use, and which may beset up and dismantled repeatedly as desired for use in differinglocations without in any way impairing the appearance or useful servicelife of the partitions.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel partitionconstruction which may be installed in a very small fraction of the timerequired for the installation of generally known types of partitions,whereby the cost of installation may be drastically reduced byeliminating practically all of the labor costs normally involved.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a novel partitionconstruction which is readily removable for installation in a differentlocation and which leaves the previously partitioned area insubstantially the same condition as it was prior to the installation ofthe partitions.

More particularly, an object of the invention is the provision of anovel partition construction made up of wholly prefabricated sectionscapable of being simply interlocked with identical companion sections toform a complete partition system of a desired configuration.

A further object of the invention is the provision of sectionalpartition construction wherein the sections thereof each includes spacedvertical posts constructed and arranged so as to interlock with the likeposts of companion sections in a desired straightW-ay and/orrightangular relationship therewith, or with a dead-end or finish endpost, depending on a particular partitioning need.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a sectionalpartition system wherein the sections thereof each includes spacedvertical posts of open-sided, channel or U-section and interlockingmeans substantially contained within the channel space, and wherein uponinterlocking of the partition sections the interlocked posts muatesatent O 3,037,593 Patented June 5, 1962 2 tually complement each otherin forming a fully closed, substantially square-sectioned post.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a sectionalpartition system as last stated, in conjunction with means to convertany desired one of the section posts into a dead-end post of closed,substantially square section as aforesaid.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel type of partitionconstruction of such flexibility that it may be optionally used in awide variety of applications, such as for oflice partitions, home roomdividers, swimming pool enclosures, porch railings, yard privacyenclosures, and in fact many other types of applications which are toonumerous to here mention.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention will become clear from areading of the following specification when taken in conjunction withthe appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical partition section grosslyillustrating some of the main constructional aspects.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a typical partitionsection illustrating in detail the configurations of the component partsnormally comprising a partition section.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the male and female connector elementswhich are utilized to assemble separate partition sections to each otherto form a completed partition assembly.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a partition section which is partlybroken away so that certain aspects of the partition may be enlarged forclarity of showing.

FIG. 5 is a left-end elevation of the partition section of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a right-end elevation of the partition section of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the partition section of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view with parts broken away taken alongthe lines 8-8 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view with parts broken away taken alongthe lines 9-9 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9A is a sectional view similar to FIG. 9 but illustrating aslightly modified form of partition construction.

FIG. 10 is a jump section taken along the lines Ill-10 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a front elevation of the mating ends of two partitionsections and illustrating the method of interlocking one section toanother.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan detail showing the ends of two partitionsections which are joined in the same plane.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged plan detail showing the ends of three panelsjoined to form two walls at right angles.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged plan detail showing the ends of four panelsjoined in a cross-wall configuration.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged plan detail showing the ends of two panels joinedat a right angle.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged plan detail showing an end post of a panelsection completed as a dead-end post.

In the several figures like elements are denoted by like referencenumerals.

Turning now to an examination of FIG. 1, it will be seen that thepartition section illustrated includes as main elements thereof a pairof vertical end post members 20 joined together by top and bottomhorizontally extending mullions 30 and a center mullion 36. Each of thevertical posts 20 is seated in a foot member, the left-hand foot being afemale foot 65 and the right-hand foot being a male foot 75. Firmlysecured between a pair of adjacent mullions and the vertical end postsare top and bottom panels 52 and 53 respectively. The partition sectionas illustrated is secured together by screws (not visible) to form aprefabricated partition section which is ready for assembly with otherpartition sections to form a completed installation. The partitionsections are secured together by male and female post connectors whichare not seen in FIG. 1 but which clearly appear in FIGS. 2, 3 and otherfigures to be subsequently described.

Turning now to the exploded view of FIG. 2 it will be seen that thevertical posts 20 each has sidewardly (outwardly) opening U-sectionmodified in that its front and back parallel walls 24 are joined by aright-angular inner sidewall 27 having formed therein a central channel21 which opens inwardly, thus to confront the similar channel of theother end post. By dimensioning the front and back walls 24 of said endposts to a depth corresponding substantially to half that called for ina finally assembled partition post, said end posts are actually verticalhalfposts and are converted to full or whole posts having closed,approximately square section only when assembled with similar butoppositely opening or facing halfend posts of adjacent partitionsections, or are dead-ended as will be explained hereinafter. Theaforesaid central channel 21 of a post 20 is composed of a pair ofparallel side walls 26 which are also substantially parallel to thefront and back outside walls 24, and a wall 25 which is perpendicular toand joins the walls 26. Turned inward from the outer end of the walls 24are a pair of lips 22, and extending from and beyond one of the lips 22is a joint cover and assembly guide 23. Close adjacent the interiorright angles formed by the post walls 26 and 27 and lying substantiallyalong the length of the wall 27 are longitudinally extending open-sidedbores 28 of such inside diameter that self-tapping screws may cut theirown threads as they advance along the length of the bore when initiallyscrewed thereinto. Such screws may be for example the screws 72 whichsecure the feet 65 and 75 to the bottom of the vertical posts 20, as forexample in the manner best seen in FIG. 10.

Running transversely to the vertical posts 20 are the horizontal top andbottom mullions 30 and the center mullion 36. The mullions 30 areessentially channel structures formed by the mullion flanges 32 and themullion main body 34 to form a channel 33. Running the length of themullions are a pair of longitudinally extending open-sided bores 35adapted to receive self-threading screws as in the case of the bores 28of the vertical posts 20. In this case, the screws 62, which secure themale and female post connectors 45 and 55 to the end posts 20, are thescrews which are threaded into these bores, as may be best seen in theviews of FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. The center mullion 36 differs from the topand bottom mullions 30 in that it is formed with two channels 37 and 38presenting in opposite directions, the bottom channel 37 facing downwardand the top channel 38 facing upward.

It is also possible, as well as advisable from the standpoint ofeconomical construction, to fabricate the top, bottom and centermullions from channel bars having identical section. Such is shown inFIG. 9A, wherein it will be seen that the top and bottom mullions 30aand the center mullion 36a are formed from channel bars of identicaldouble-channel section, although only the center mullion 36a utilizesboth channels. This figure also suggests the sealing of the top andbottom edge of the panels 52, 54 in the channels of the mullions as bymeans of plastic i.e. vinyl, expansion seals which further preventrattling, etc. of the panels. To provide the top mullion 30a with afinished appearance and to close off the open upper channel thereof, acontinuous cap strip 38x secured to the top side of the mullion as shownmay be employed.

In assembling a partition section, the mullions and post connecters aresimultaneously secured to the posts in the following fashion. First,screw holes 29 are drilled through the walls 27 of the vertical posts 20so that the screws 62 may pass therethrough. The position of these screwholes is best seen in the showings of FIGS. 8 and 10, FIG. 8 showing thelateral positioning of the screw holes relative to the post bores 28 andthe mullions, and FIG. 10, showing the position of the screws 62relative to the mullion bores 35. In assembling a partition, the bottommullion 30 is seated against the end post 20 with the mullion end face31 in flush engagement with the walls 27 of the vertical post 20 andwith the mullion bores 35 in alignment with the previously mentionedholes 29 drilled through the wall 27 of the vertical posts. A maleconnector member is then positioned against the rear wall 25 of thechannel 21 with the holes 61 also in alignment with the holes 29 drilledthrough the walls 27 of the posts 20. The screws 62 are then passedthrough the aligned holes 61 and 29 and into the bores 35 in the bottommullion 30. Similarly, a female connector 45 is secured in the samefashion to the left-hand vertical post 20 by the screws 62 which passthrough the holes 61 of the connector 45, through the holes 29 in thewalls 27 of the vertical post 20 and into the bores 35 of the bottommullion 30.

The corrugated bottom panel 53 may be now inserted from the top with theleft and right ends disposed within the post channels 21 until thebottom edge of the panel seats within the channel 33 of the bottommullion 30. The center mullion 36 may now be secured in place bypositioning it with its end faces in flush engagement with the walls 27of the vertical posts 20 just as in the case of the bottom mullion 30,and with the top edge of the panel 53 being disposed within the bottomchannel 37 of the center mullion 36 so that the top and bottom edges ofthe panel 53 are firmly seated between the center and bottom mullions 36and 30 respectively. The center pair of male and female connectors 55and 45 are now secured to the posts 20, and the latter secured to thecenter mullion longitudinal bores 39. The top panel 52 may be nowpositioned in exactly the same manner as was the bottom panel 53, andthe top mullion 30 may be placed in position in the same manner as wasthe center mullion 36 and bottom mullion 30. The top mullion 30, thevertical posts 21 and the top set of male and female connectors 55 and45 are now secured together by the screws 62 in the manner alreadydescribed in connection with the bottom and center mullions.

Connectible to the bottom of the left-hand post 20 is a female foot 65,and Connectible to the right-hand post 20 is a male foot 75. These feet65 and are designated as female and male respectively because they are.each associated with a vertical post which carries female or maleconnectors 45 or 55. The female foot 65 hasa main floor engaging part66, floor engaging extensions 67, a post retaining rim 68 within whichthe bottom of post 20 is adapted to snugly fit, and a pair of chamfers.

69 on the rim 68. The male foot 75 includes parts similar to those justmentioned in connection with the. female foot 65 with the exception thatthe floor engaging extensions 67 of the latter are replaced by a pairofoverlying extensions 77. As clearly seen in FIGS. 5,,

6, 8 and 10 the bottom of the vertical posts 20 seat down upon the mainfloor engaging parts 66 and 76 of the feet 65 and 75, with the latterbeing secured to the posts 20 by the screws 72 which project upwardthrough for example the holes 81 in the foot 75 and into thelongitudinally extending bores 28 in the post 20. As most clearly seenin FIG. 8, the joint cover and assembly guide 23 which extendslongitudinally on the post 20 fits within the chamfers 69 and 79 on thepost retaining rims of the feet 65 and 75.

In order to prevent rattling of the corrugated panels 52 and 53 in thecompleted partition section, it has been found advantageous to employ apair of splines 40. As may be clearly seen in FIG. 2, one spline 40 isassociated with each of the end posts 20 and is of substantiallyU-shaped configuration with one arm of the U being perpendicular to thebase, and the other arm of the U belng inclined at an angle to the baseso that the sides of the U are non-parallel. The showing of FIG. 8illustrates the position assumed by the spline 40 when it has beenassembled into the partition section. The spline wall 41 lies adjacentone wall 26 of the channel 21 in the vertical post 20, while the splinewall 42 presents toward the end faces of the horizontally extendingmullions, and the ridged spline wall 43 clamps the edges of the panel 52against the opposite wall 26 of the channel 21 in the vertical posts 20.It is thus clear that the top panel 52, and of course also the bottompanel 53, is securely clamped along its sides and is prevented fromrattling in those instances where installation of partitions is made inlocations which may be subject to vibration, as for example where heavymachinery is being operated.

In assembling the partition section, the spline may be inserted at thetop into the vertical post channel 21 as shown in FIG. 8, and forceddownward into the channel 21 by exerting pressure on the upper end ofthe spline 40. Typically, the posts 20, the splines 40, and the mullions30 and 36, may be extruded aluminum sections; the male and female postconnectors 55 and 45, and the feet 75 and 65 may be die cast aluminum;and the corrugated panels 52 and 53 may be formed of fiber glass. Myinvention of course is not limited to the use of the foregoing materialssince the aluminum parts could as readily be made of steel or highstrength plastic or other suitable sub-stances, while the panels 52 and53 need not be fabricated either in a corrugated shape or of fiberglass, but could be instead formed of a substance of a thickness justsuitable for passing between the flanges of the mullions, in which casethe splines 40 may be dispensed with.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 11 and as most clearly seen in FIG. 9,the lower corrugated panel 53 illustrated in FIG. 2 has been replaced bya solid plane surface panel 54. In FIG. 9 the panel 54 is seen to justfit between the flanges 32 of the bottom mullion 30 and it is alsoapparent that the inside distance between the flanges 32 corresponds tothe width of the channel 21 in the vertical post. As also best seen fromFIG. 9, only a short spline 40 is required to clamp the upper corrugatedpanel 52 securely within the channel 21 of the post 20, the lower panel54 requiring no spline since it fits snugly within the channel 21.

The showings of FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate more clearly than FIG. 1the general appearance of a two panel partition section, the relativedimensions of the vertical posts and mullions bearing only an arbitraryrela tion to the illustrated sizes of the panels 52 and 54 as indicatedby the fragmentation lines present in these four figures. In thisregard, it will of course be understood that the partition sections maybe fabricated in a variety of vertical-to-horizontal dimension-ratiosdepending upon the particular purpose for which the sections areintended or to provide varying artistic effects. Similarly, although theillustrations show partition sections formed with two panels, thesesections may be formed with merely a single panel, or, on the otherhand, with a plurality of panels in excess of two, again depending uponthe particular use and visual effect desired.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and which illustrate most clearly the male andfemale post connectors 55 and 45, of which one type will be arranged onalternate end posts and the other type on intermediate end posts of apartition construction, it is seen that the male post connector 55includes a base or rear wall 56 which is connected to a tongue part ormember 63 extending transversely across the channel of the male postwith which it is associated and having a front surface 57, a rearsurface 58, and a pair of side-edge surfaces 59, such connection beingeifected by a neck 60. The side surfaces 59 taper inwardly as theyprogress from top to bottom of the connector, so that a section takenthrough the side surfaces 59 in a plane parallel to the rear wall 56 isshaped as an isosceles trapezoid. The plane of the front surface 57 issubstantially parallel to the plane of the rear'wall 56, whereas theplane of the rear surface 58 diverges from the plane of the rear wall 56from top to bottom of the trapezoidal part 63, this geometry being mostclearly seen in the showing of FIG. 10. Thus, the tongue member 57 isshaped and functions as a two-way wedge. The female post connector 45 issimilarly formed with a base or rear wall 46, and front and side walls48 and 47 respectively, which conjointly form a male connector receivingsocket opening 49 adapted to receive the trapezoidal part 63 of the maleconnector 55. A slot 58 in the front wall 48 accommodates the neck 60 ofthe male connector 55 when the two connectors are operatively engaged.The interior geometry of the socket opening 49 of the female connector45 is also best seen in the showing of FIG. 10. Further to the aforesaidneck 60 of the male connector 55, the depth thereof, i.e. the amountthat it projects the double-wedge tongue 57 from the connector base 56,is predetermined in relation to the depth of the channel defined by theend post mounting said male connector and is such as to space the tonguea fixed distance forwardly from said bottom wall in the direction of theopen side of the end post channel. More particularly, and as is clearlyshown in FIG. 12, this fixed distance is that required to secure theedges of the corresponding side walls of two confronting half end-postsof adjacent partition sections being assembled to one another in tightengagement when the tongue (or tongues) of the male connector carried byone of said posts is fully seated in the socket (or sockets) of theopposite female connector of the other end post being so assembled.

From the showing of FIGS. 3 and 10 it will be appreciated that when thetrapezoidal part 63 of the male connector 55 is inserted from above intothe aperture .49 of the female connector 45, the rear surface 58 of thetrapezoidal part 63 will engage the inside surface of the front wall 48of the female connector "45, and as the male connector moves down intothe female connector the neck 60 will fit into the slot 50 and the twoconnectors will be drawn toward each other by virtue of the taperedsurface 58 of the male connector and the complementally tapered insidesurface of the front wall 48 of the female connector. Similarly, thetapering side surfaces 59 of the trapezoidal part 63 of the maleconnector 55 will engage the complementally shaped inside surfaces ofthe side walls 47 of the female connector 45, and together with theclosely fitting neck 60 and slot 50 will laterally center the twoconnectors so that there is no tendency toward sideways shifting motionof one relative to the other.

Turning now to FIG. 11 which illustrates the manner of interlocking apair of adjacent partition sections, it is seen that the left-hand endof the right-hand partition section is fitted with female postconnectors 45 and a female foot 65, whereas the proximate right-hand endof the left-hand partition section is fitted with male connectors 55 anda male foot 75, and that the partition sections are shown with theirvertical posts 20 engaged just prior to mating of the male and femaleconnectors. The easy and proper alignment of the vertical posts 20 iseffected by the joint cover and assembly guides 23 which form a part ofthe posts 28 as shown and described in connection with FIG. 2. Theseassembly guides 23 provide vertical nesting alignment of the posts 20 sothat the male connector elements 55 are all readily simultaneouslyengageable with the female connectors 55 as the left-hand partitionsection is dropped downward. At the same time, the overlying extensions77 of the male foot 75 seat down upon the floor engaging extensions 67of the female foot 65. The interlocked partition sections may be noweasily secured to the floor by means of screws 82 which pass through theholes 70 and in the feet 65 and 75 and into the floor. The screws 82 andthe holes 70 and 80 are clearly detailed in the exploded view of FIG. 2.

Thus, it can be seen that the joining of partition sections can beeffected in a matter of seconds and that areas may be completelypartitioned ofi in an extremely short time. Although these partitionsare'substantially selfsupporting, particularly when one or moreright-angled partition walls are joined, if desired an assembledpartition may be permanently secured in position by means of the screws82 through the feet 65 and 75 in the manner previously described. As isnow evident, extensive partitioning can be accomplished in a relativelyshort time by completely unskilled labor and involving only the optionaluse of a screwdriver for securing the foot screws 82.

FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and illustrate respectively the joining of partitionsections to form a straight-run partition wall, a straight run of wallwith a right-angled partition (sometimes referred to as a 3-wayintersection), two intersecting straight runs of walls (sometimesreferred to as a 4-Way intersection), and a simple right-angle corner(also called a 2-way intersection). In particular, FIG. 12 shows asectional plan view of a pair of parti tions interlocked in the mannerseen in FIG. 11, and clearly illustrates the interlocking male andfemale post connectors 55 and 45, the manner in which the interlockedposts, or more properly half-posts 20--20 of channel section mutuallycomplement each other in forming a fully closed, substantiallysquare-sectioned partition post, and the overlap of the joint covers 23to provide a smooth finished appearance to the composite post -20.

FIG. 13 shows the structure of FIG. 12 to which has been added aperpendicularly extending partition section having special verticalposts 85. The vertical posts 85 differ from the already describedvertical posts 20 in two particulars. Firstly, the side walls 86 of thevertical posts 85 are of extended depth (as viewed in crosssection) ascompared to the side wall 24 of the halfpost 20, so as to haveapproximately the same depth as that of a composite post 2020, andsecondly, the side walls 86 each terminates in a joint cover 87 whereasin the vertical posts 20 only one of the side walls 24 included a jointcover 23 at its outer end. In assembly, a female connector (or aplurality of such connectors extending the length of the post) isscrewed to the composite post 2020 by means of the short screws 73, andthe male connectors afiixed to the vertical posts 85 in the conventionalfashion are engageable therewith to interlock the perpendicularlyextending partition section in the now well-known manner. The jointcover 23 on the composite post 2020 must of course be cut away in theregion where the female connector 45 is to be mounted so that the latterwill lie flush against the composite post.

The structure of FIG. 14 involves merely a repetition of the process ofconstructing the structure of FIG. 13 from that of FIG. 12. That is, anadditional partition section which includes a vertical post section 85is secured to the remaining free side of the composite post 2ti-20 inthe manner already described in connection with FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 illustrates the construction of a right-angle or two-waypartition corner and involves the use of a partition dead-end or finishpost 90 shown in FIG. 16 which will be described first. As seen in thisfigure, the finish post is designed primarily to complete apartition-section post 20 which forms an exposed dead end of a partitioninstallation. Accordingly, its side walls have depth corresponding tothe depth of the side walls of a post 20 and its bottom wall, whichforms the vertical end wall of the partition, is externally planar andcarries on its inner side female connectors 91 corresponding exactly tothe aforesaid female connectors 45. Thus, when assembled with andinterlocked to an end (illustratively, the right-hand end) post 20 of apartition section, the finish post 90 converts same to a fullyclosed-square sectioned post. Also to be observed is that the side wallsof the finish post terminate in joint covers 92 comparing to theaforesaid joint covers 23 of the posts 20.

Reverting to the FIG. 15 intersection or corner, such employs apartition section terminating in a open-sided post 20, a dead end orfinish post according to FIG. 16 assembled to and interlocked therewith,and a partition section terminating in a deeper post 86 similar to theintersecting partition according to FIG. 13 interlocked therewith bymating of its male connectors 55 with female connectors 45, which latterare screwed jointly to the coplanar outer side of said post 20 andfinish post 90 as by short screws 73a corresponding to the screws 73 ofthe FIGS. 13 and 14 intersections. The joint cover 92 on the side of thecomposite post 2ll-9ll to which the intersecting partition fastens mustof course be cut away in the region where the female connector(s) 45 aremounted so that the latter will be flush against the coplanar outersides thereof.

Although my invention has been described in connection with particularlyillustrated embodiments thereof, it is understood that various changesand modifications may be made from time to time by those personsnormally skilled in the art without departing from the essential spiritor scope thereof, and accordingly it is intended to claim the samebroadly as well as specifically as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In partition construction, a prefabricated partition section forassembly to like prefrabricated sections comprising, in combination, apair of horizontally spaced, upright end posts, at least one panelextending between and being secured at its side edges to the inner sidesof said posts, said posts having U-section and being disposed so thatthe channels defined by the bottom and side walls thereof open to theouter sides of the posts, at least one male connector element and meansaffixing the latter to the bottom wall of one of said posts, at leastone female connector element and means atfixing the latter to the bottomwall of the other of said posts, said connector elements being containedsubstantially within the respective channels of the posts and operativethrough the channel openings thereof, said male connector elementincluding a tongue fixedly secured to the bottom wall of said one postand extending transversely of the channel thereof and having downwardlytapered wedge shape in both front and side elevation, said femaleconnector element comprising an upwardly-opening, socket-forming meansfixedly secured to the bottom wall of the other post and defining asocket opening shaped complementally to said tongue, and said tonguebeing spaced from the bottom wall of said one post a predetermineddistance in relation to the depth of the channel defined by said endpost whereby said partition section may be assembled to like sectionshaving their male and female fastener elements arranged alternately tothose of said section solely by bringing said sections into post-edgeabutting colinear relationship in which the end posts of adjacentsections and said male and female connector elements confront and aredisposed relatively one above the other and thereupon mating saidconnector elements, said panel being seated along its top and bottomedges in mullions extending between said posts, and saidconnector-element affixing means also securing said mullions to theposts.

2. A partition construction comprising a plurality of individualprefabricated partition sections assembled to one another, each of saidsections comprising two horizontally spaced upright end posts and apanel extending therebetween and secured at its side edges thereto, saidend posts having U-section and being disposed so that the channelsdefined by the bottom and spaced side wall thereof open to the outersides of the end posts, at least one male connector element and meansafiixing same to the bottom wall of each of the alternate end posts ofthe sections, at least one female connector element and means aflixingsame to the bottom wall of each of the intermediate end posts of thesections, the connector elements being contained substantially withinthe channels of their end posts and operative through the channelopenings, the end posts and connector elements of adjacent partitionsections thus confronting one another, said male connector elements eachincluding a tongue fixedly secured to the bottom wall of an alternateend post and extending transversely of the channel thereof and havingdownwardly tapering wedge shape in both front and side elevation, thefemale connector elements each comprising upwardly-openingsocket-forming means fixedly secured to the bottom wall of itsintermediate end post and defining a socket opening shapedcomplementally to the tongue of said male connector element, wherebysaid tongues and sockets are capable of being mated solely by relativelydownward movement of said tongues into the sockets, said tongues andsocket-forming means being positioned at predetermined fixed locationswithin the channels of their respective end posts such that when theconfronting end posts of adjacent sections are brought together andgiven limited relative vertical movement the tongues and sockets oftheir confronting male and female connectors mate as aforesaid and inmating secure said confronting end posts together in fully assembled andmutually complementing relationship, the assembled end posts of adjacentpartition sections being supported on feet each comprising complementalhalf-sections meeting along adjacent edges, each half-section includinga floor-engaging base part having on its upper face a U-shaped rimdefining an open-sided recess which opens through its meeting edge andhas width and depth corresponding substantially to the external widthand depth dimensions of an end-post section whereby said rim is adaptedto snugly receive its lower end of an end post, said half-sections eachfurther including extensions which project beyond their meeting edges,said extensions of the half-sections being arranged to mutually interfitwith one another responsive to said half-sections being bnought togetherinto complementing relationship.

3. A partition construction comprising a plurality of individualprefabricated partition sections assembled to one another, each of saidsections comprising two horizontally spaced upright end posts and apanel extending therebetween and secured at its side edges thereto, saidend posts having U-section and being disposed so that the channelsdefined by the bottom and spaced side wall there- I of open to the outersides of the end posts, at least one male connector element and meansaffixing same to the bottom wall of each of the alternate end posts ofthe sections, at least one female connector element and means afiixingsame to the bottom wall of each of the intermediate end posts of thesections, the connector elements being contained substantially Withinthe channels of their end posts and operative through the channelopenings, the end posts and connector elements of adjacent partitionsections, thus confronting one another, said male connector elementseach including a tongue fixedly secured to the bottom wall of analternate end post and extending transversely of the channel thereof andhaving downwardly tapering Wedge shape in both front and side elevation,the female connector elements each comprising upwardlyopeningsocket-forming means fixedly secured to the bottom wall of itsintermediate end post and defining a sock at opening shapedcomplementally to the tongue of said male connector element, wherebysaid tongues and sockets are capable of being mated solely by relativelydownward movement of said tongues into the sockets, said tongues andsocket-forming means being positioned at predetermined fixed locationswithin the channels of their respective end posts such that when theconfronting end posts of adjacent sections are brought together andgiven limited relative vertical movement the tongues and sockets oftheir confronting male and female connectors mate as aforesaid and inmating secure said confronting end posts together in fully assembled andmutually complementing relationship, at least one horizontal mullionextending between the end posts of the individual partition sectionsadjacent an edge of the panel thereof, said means for aflixing the maleand female connector elements to their respective end posts of a sectionalso securing the ends of the 'section mullion to said end posts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS397,767 Wells Feb. 12, 1889 1,883,871 Bohnsack Oct. 25, 1932 2,061,702Goddard et a1 Nov. 24, 1936 2,764,107 Niswonger et al. Sept. 25, 19562,915,151 Kekenak Dec. 1, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 721,190 Great BritainDec. 29, 1954 756,449 Great Britain Sept. 5, 1956

